Skateboarding

DC Shoes Million Fan Army

by The Editors on September 29, 2010

Dc LogoDC Shoes announced today that they have officially passed the 1 million mark for facebook likes and they’re extremely excited about it.

“We’re excited to have grown our Facebook community to this size,” said DC’s President, Anton Nistl. “Facebook is one of the best ways to connect with consumers. It’s a simple, fast and exciting interface to which people have responded positively. We understand its importance and influence and will continue to bring the latest original and creative content surrounding our athletes, events and products to our Facebook followers.”

Kind of makes all other forms of media promotion seem kind of insignificant in comparison, huh?

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Battle At The Berrics 3 Finals Tonight

by The Editors on September 29, 2010

Shane OneillTonight, in a secret warehouse location on the outskirts of Los Angeles, California the Battle at the Berrics 3 finals are going down and for those not following along, here’s who is left in the comp: Street League Las Vegas winner Shane O’Neill (right), Torrey Pudwill, PJ Ladd, and P-Rod. How’s that for a lineup?

After watching Shane’s work against Chris Cole in the last round we’re guessing this could be the best Battle at the Berrics finals yet.

[Link: Battle At The Berrics 3]

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Downtown Showdown October 2

by The Editors on September 28, 2010

Vans DtshIt’s been six year since the first Vans Downtown Showdown and since then the event has only grown. This weekend (Saturday, October 2, 2010 from 5 PM to 10 PM) the back lot at Paramount Studios, in Hollywood California will host the mayhem.

The top teams in skateboarding including Girl, Zero, Toy Machine, Foundation, Black Label, Blind, Element and Powell Peralta submitted plans for obstacles and Vans has picked the best of the lot. . . Black Label, Girl, Zero and Foundation’s designs have been chosen and custom built as part of this year’s Showdown course. Each team will session the four unique obstacles in a round-robin format with awards going out for top team, best pro, top am and best performance by obstacle. . . Expected riders include: Brian Anderson, Tony Trujillo, Frank Gerwer, Rick Howard, Vincent Alvarez, Chris Pfanner, Chris Cole, Garrett Hill, Tommy Sandoval, Jamie Tancowny, Ben Hatchell, Leo Romero, Billy Marks, Johnny Layton, Matt Bennett, Daniel Lutheran, Collin Provost, Nick Merlino, Elijah Berle, Marquis Preston, Taylor Smith, Abdias Rivera, Adam Alfaro, Chris Troy, Omar Hassan, Peter Raffin, Tyler Mumma, Ronnie Creager, Jake Duncombe, Kevin Romar, Sean Sheffey, Chad Tim Tim, Levi Brown, Nick Garcia, Boo Johnson, Jordan Hoffart, Chad Bartie, Josh Hawkins and more.

And the best part? The whole thing will be streamed live online at Vans.com/showdown. Click the link for more info.

[Link: Vans Downtown Showdown]

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Bonnier Stirs Things Up In Print

by The Editors on September 28, 2010

Bonnier Corp Logo-1Seems the Bonnier Corporation (overlords of Transworld Media) is switching up nearly everything this month.

Bonnier management canned the editorial director at the Parenting Group, moved their Garden Design magazine offices to New York City, rebranded Wakeboarding as Transworld Wakeboarding magazine, and more importantly, eliminated three positions in the Carlsbad, California offices including the publisher of Transworld Skateboarding magazine, a job held by 11-year Transworld veteran Jamey Stone. Transworld Group Publisher Liam Ferguson explains:

TransWorld Media recently made a very small reduction in its workforce in an effort to cut costs, offset expenses and strategically plan for future initiatives that are currently in line for the company,” Ferguson said in an email. “In order to ensure the ongoing success of TransWorld Media, these tough decisions with our TransWorld Family were made so we can continue to provide an exceptional level of service to our audience, advertisers, and existing employees.”

Hard times, hard decisions. Jamey’s deep knowledge of skateboarding and dedication to authenticity is reportedly already being missed at the company. And, as most media companies are being forced to adjust staff sizes to meet new economies realities, the question many have is who will be next?

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Tony Hawk Talks Business In New Book

by The Editors on September 27, 2010

Hawk HowdidTony Hawk has a new book out and this time he’s written it with his sister Pat Hawk (who has time to write their own books these days). It’s titled, How Did I Get Here? The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO.

Fast Company spoke to Tony about the book and asked him what his biggest mistake has been.

I was 18 or 19 — I was just signing my name on the dotted line everywhere I went. This one company was making Velcro wallets — really bad pink and blue ones. Probably the worst part for me was it ripped off the Vision Street Wear logo and made them say TONY HAWK GEAR. I didn’t even see them until they were in the store. That was the tipping point for me: I learned not to allow someone else to use my likeness and my name like that.

Oddly, he didn’t mention the Tony Hawk Helmet Cam deal with Prime Entertainment in which he was forced to sue for $115,000 plus punitive damages. How Did I Get Here comes out Tuesday, October 5, 2010. Click here to buy a copy.

[Link: Fast Company]

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Maloof’s SoCal Skatepark Site Search

by The Editors on September 27, 2010

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After three years of building elegant street courses for their Maloof Money Cups only to tear them down following the events, the Maloof family is hoping to build a permanent park in Orange County to follow through on what they’ve already done in Flushing Meadows New York, according to a story in the Orange County Business Journal.

“We just can’t afford to tear it down anymore,” Joe Maloof said. “I don’t mean that financially.” Maloof, a skateboarding fan, said that to tear it down “makes you sick to your stomach.” “I’m never tearing down another park,” he said. . . A site in Huntington Beach is looking like a leading contender for a permanent 16,000-square-foot skatepark that would host the annual contest. An environmental study is in the early stages.

Huntington Beach could always use another skatepark. We vote for one right on the sand near the pier.

[Link: Orange County Business Journal]

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Nike Skatepark Causing Protests In Japan

by The Editors on September 27, 2010

Article-1285573433786-0B5B04E3000005Dc-748063 636X347

On Sunday, September 26, 2010, Protesters in Tokyo’s Miyashita Park “banged drums and waved ‘No Nike’ ” signs in opposition of Nike’s plans build a skateboard park in an area which was formerly used as a homeless encampment, according to a story on Japan Today.

Officials accompanied by police tore out the squatters’ tents from the park Friday and threw out their belongings. More than 30 homeless people were forced to vacate the area, according to Yasumasa Hioki, director of public works at Shibuya district, an area filled with fancy boutiques and young shoppers. . . “This is just an excuse to get rid of the homeless,” said protest organizer Seiji Uematsu, adding residents and visitors should decide how to use the park.

And all Nike wants to do is put in a skatepark and use a public space as an advertising venue by changing the name of the park to Miyashita Nike Park.

[Link: Japan Today and Metro.co.uk]

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That Guy Who Still Writes Letters To Skate Mags

by The Editors on September 26, 2010

Letter-1-ArticlelargeBobby “Shaggy” Crawford, 38, a mailroom worker in the New York City offices of the Heart Corporation, has apparently been writing letters to skateboard magazines (and other publications) for 15 years, according to a story in the New York Times. Now, thanks to all his hard work, the paper of record is giving him a little media play of his own in the form of a profile.

Mr. Crawford has been delivering mail at the Hearst Corporation for 13 years, regaling everyone from interns to executives with tales of his skateboarding escapades. But what most of the writers, editors and arbiters to whom he delivers letters and packages do not realize is that he has been published in more magazines than many of them. . . More than 100 of his letters have been printed in their pages.

Slap’s Mark Whiteley says the guy sticks at it. “Shaggy was relentless. He’d send letters every month. Sometimes they were terrible, sometimes they were pointless, sometimes they were just too harsh to print. But a lot of the time they were hilarious.”

Shaggy is definitely a dying breed. While most other cranks have started their own blogs, it appears that Shaggy is going to keep writing until there are no more letters sections left to fill. Which shouldn’t be all that long.

[Link: New York Times]

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O’Neill Takes Vegas, Huston Grabs The Crown

by The Editors on September 26, 2010

Sheckles Sl
Ryan Sheckler: Half cab flip. Photo: Rob Brink

On September 25, 2010 Rob Dyrdek wrapped up the first season of Street League at Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Arena with Australian Nike SB rider Shane O’Neill taking the top spot. With a third place finish Nyjah Huston grabbed the overall title and the $20,000 diamond encrusted Nixon Watch.

It was a solid ender for events that have garnered mixed reviews. While no one can deny that Street League put down some of the best competition street skateboarding on record, many who have tried to watch the Street League TV shows (us included) have been shocked by how clinical the events come off looking in the absence of a jam format. Watching skateboarders do one trick or one line one at a time and then waiting for a score can get tedious very quickly. But we’re confident Rob Dyrdek will have no problem fixing all this for next year. The guy is the master of delivering exactly what people (and sponsors) want.

Final Results
Street League #3
1. Shane O’Neill
2. Chris Cole
3. Nyjah Huston
4. Chaz Ortiz
5. Ryan Sheckler
6. Paul Rodriguez
7. Greg Lutzka

[Link: Etnies.com, ESPN/Action, and The Skateboard Mag]

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Playing Catch Up With Street League

by The Editors on September 24, 2010

Today the final Street League Qualifiers of the season are going down at The Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas and tomorrow a champion will be named. What better way to prepare for the finals than to catch event 1 and 2 online. Both the Arizona and SoCal stops of Street League are now up on the ESPN/Action site. Check out stop one above, or click here for stop two.

[Link: ESPN/Action]

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